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Senate selection causes tension in the Territory

By Ruby JonesUpdated
Wed 23 Jan 2013, 5:00 PM AEDT

The Northern Territory's former deputy chief minister Marion Scrymgour says the Prime Minister should have chosen her for the top spot on the Senate ticket if she wanted an Indigenous woman in the role.

The Prime Minister Julia Gillard has hand-picked Nova Peris for the Senate position, saying the selection of the indigenous Olympian is a matter of 'national significance'.

Marion Scrymgour says the political play has left a bad taste in her mouth.

"If she felt there wasn't another aboriginal candidate then why didn't she ring me?" she said.

"I mean that is the issue and it is the issue that I've tried to get an answer from her and her office and I'll keep seeking that."

The Territory's Transport Minister Adam Giles says the Prime Minister's selection of Nova Peris is a slap in the face for Territorians.

"This is a race-based attempt to try and get some sort of tokenistic measure at the federal level," he said.

The Northern Territory's former chief minister Paul Henderson says the Prime Minister has a right to endorse a candidate, but the final decision should have been left to Party members.